Interchangeable electric display apparatus.



PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

s SHEETS-'SHEET l,

K D. LEVY. l m'fI-BRGHANGEABLB BLEGTMG MSPLAY APPARATUS. APPLICATIONFILED'APR. 5, 1905.

A i i f PATENTED JAN. 1'. 19o-s.

D. LEVY.

INTERGHANGEABLE BLEGTRC DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION P11121) APR. 5, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHBET Z..

No. 875,715. PATENTBD JN. 7, 1908.

D. LEVY.

NTERCHNGEABE' ILTR DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPMOATION mmm APR. 5. 1905` 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'this :n.llplif-:xliun is mlziptell lui UNITE@ BEROND. LEVY, Ol" NEW'YflrQlQ YORK, N.

i. Assn;

., M illu NTERCHANGE AE THE` Specific: it

ilisgilij-,f appeletiae, atus being :id-ap ted le? electrically :ggilieplafijpsigns, smell letters ei: nmuemlsi, by successively lightingililereiit Cellibinetions of lamps arranged w thin given 'field er spacete exhibit in the lom'lmtien et tile letter er eume'ul de@ The generalclass ei eppamtus 'te Wliiel'i leve tien "petains is illulitmted inlet-- l Patent el' the Y,United States Ne. 583,363,

4 :tilted Septeinb-er 24., lQOl t0 lylasen Mone-- gram Uemgmny esSeigneefol G. ll. Meson, :im l Ne. 728,9LlLl grant-@fl Msi-y 26, M03 teenogram Ceu'ipeiy as el' Defends, Levy.-

Y 'lie present invention petziiis mme espe eielljf te e ferriege-eallapparatus :md peltiilzulluly to :L nevel Switch meelianiem forsimi:ltlmeeufily throwing tlie lesiecl linups in the i'nenegiammiel'ielil luto mul out olf cil'- eilit; it heilig' neeeesskmy that(lilla-lient sets el' lamps be lighted llom time to time te display theVarying nui'i'iemls by which the carriages muy lie desigimted.

'llle ehjeet et tlie inventief: is t 1,ue luee im alipzlliiitus bywhich, in connection with the .menegrzmnnic 'liellls described in theelm-@field Letters-Patent, numerals termed ly lighted lampe; may 'we(lislpleyenl l.'v i' cellii'ig M'riuges :it night, and the noise and.will@ :lien unused by slleutilig mit the 'mlzzilms el" carriages t0 calltliem, may be elivizltell.

l'lnlifssuily the muriel-mummia lie/.ls :ire zii nl in series, eaeli'lielil containing; Milli# el uit lamps to rlipleiy, in, theirvzizieigs; eeml lmitirms-:, :my mnneml ranging imm tl t0 Siil'llliirive, mul l lnflvi t() employ tlxrer; el' will lielils ixixingmlwille by sill# u m; tu will #alliages imlnlwlefl imm, my, l te 999.

'llw new! swililx mechanism presenteil in use in ernmentilm wltll threemermgrmnmic i'iellls mul in. displaying :L mum-ral on :my que m' :illel' s. ill fields, :md the will umulmnimn vmixpi'imwl il ieu lileflApril l5. 1605.

releasing all the clep'essae lie di eleyell ilmnemls me equruecl,

wi ,l1 fieeeseries, ell as llerelv.. eelibel.

'lie wieg; te tile eeeempeuyiug i `igue il i al top View el anism emmlying my' invention.; side eleva u et same, elle elf the Ver being;shown :is leek/eti in its position; Fig, 3 le e top View on am seule, ela, 'portion el smile, tml Fig. enlarged Side elevation el 'peetieli e;

.ln the lrnfwings, E() designates tile el elet-e er like eisitelvlesulvstzmee, le? the. entire s iteli meelxmlisili; 2l en elevatedbeefsil, el" Slate el* like suitable minstens/e, stipilmlz, l by pests 2over seicl bese and' l'n-f .:11ii1g the several series et binding pests;2.3 :i ti'eesvelee ilietfil plete Seemed en @ge f mi said liee sind.lim/ing in Lip'pe' edge :L series el' equally spaced neteliev' D, pivotf :telly ilewatt-lies; 'lille-rein, 21ml the. fswitelbleveis arrangednmillel 'te me ametlwi: euml einen? ell mi sei'l pivot rml 2li, s llevens having :it lillei" mi e m' exposed emile tlie pes' if; em'jyiig'lilttiilfi-lxemls: 7 Wlliel'i beer 'the :amneville it nitty lie (lesiiete ermee en the mmmgmllmic lields 'llxe leve'i'sjl tre et metal emi theliuttmvlxezula 27 :are el' nenwmlueting; materiel, :imi mid leversverify mi llwii inner pel'tllms helew tile. l d '3l ille Spring contacte35%, wliia'li uit zipn'epriztte times :irre musedV te engage the lewe?emile; el the liiiuling'pests 2% siipeerlml iii rmifl imiiid. fillespring contacts lil :we Simply pic :es 0l" leaf Spring metiil secured ettheir le ends 'metallic bolts to the levers 25 and thence curving.upwardly and rearwardly thereromso as to be free to yield whenmoved-into engagement. with the binding posts 29.

The bindin posts 29 are` arranged in rows, as shown in ig. 1, andthe-levers 25 are ar- Aranged -in linewith these rows of binding posts,each lever carrying as many spring contacts 28 as thereare bindin postsin the row immediately above it. T eiirst three rows of binding posts atthe left of Fig. 1, have three posts in each row, and conseuently thefirst three levers 25 at the left of ig. 1 will each carry three springcontacts 28. The number of binding posts 29 in a row vary in accordancewiththe circuits to be made, and the number of spring contacts 23carried by the levers 25 must vary accordingly. @hes-.binding posts 29are simply assing through apertures in the slate board) 21, the heads.of said bolts being adapted to receive the pressure of the sprincontacts 28, while the upper ends of saidv olts are threaded to receivethe nuts 31 by'which the circuit wires' may be connected therewith,

Each ofthe switch levers 25 has connected with it a spring 32 whichnormally7 holds the inner end of the lever down against a transversestop 33, as represented by the iirst lever in Fig. 2, (which is aprojection from the left hand side of Fig. l) in which lposition of thelever all of its spring contacts 28 are held below and clear ofthebinding posts above them. The upper ends of the springs 32 arefastened to small pins projecting from the sides of the levers 25, andthe lower ends of said springs are fastened to the edge of a plate 33extending transversely across and secured to the slate base 20.

Adjacent to their outer ends the levers 25 are each provided witha'sinall transverse pin 34, shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4,

ada ted to be engaged by a pivoted spring latch 35 when the outer end ofthe lever is depressed to move its springcontacts 28 upwardly againstthe binding posts 29. All ot the spring latches 35 are pivotally mount'-ed upon a transverse rod 36 which extends through the upper edge of atransverse plate 37 secured upon the base 20, the upper edge of thisplate 37 being recessed to receive the lower ends of said latches, andsaid latches normally having their upper ends drawn inwardly or towardthe rear by the tension of the springs 38. Each lever -25 is providedwith a pin 34, and the latches 35 are independent of one another and onelatch is provided for each lever. The upper ends of the latches 35 areinclined downwardly and inwardly as shownin Fig.v 4 and normally lieimmediately below the pins 34,- so that upon the depression of a leverits in will ride down the inclined upper end of t ie latch and force thelatter to turn outwardly to- Aing in accordance with ward the front sothat said pin maypass;

below its engaging point 39, upon doing which the spring 38 will causethe latch to again move rearwardly and carry said point 39 above the pin34, as shown in Fig. 2, said latch when in suchtpositioii bein enabledto lock the lever in its depressed position and to maintain the springcontacts 28 carried by said lever infirm engagement with the bindingposts 29 immediately above them. 4

In the employment of the switch mechanism it will frequently happen thatthe levers which are depressed will be distributed over the base 2() inan irregular relation, this bethe special numerals it may be desired todisplay in the monograinmic field, and after any set of levers havebeendepressed-to crea-te the circuits and effect .the display of the propernumerals, they will be held in their depressed position by theappropriate spring latches 35 until the occasion for the display hasceased and it is desired to display a new set of nu-v merals, whereuponall of the depressed keys must be released to return, under the tensionof the springs 32, to their initial position with their spring contacts-28 entirely free of l the binding posts 29, and I have thereforeprovided means for effecting the simultaneous release of all of thedepressed levers, these'means comprising a transverse rod 40 extendingacross the switch board linimediately in the rear of the spring latches35 and at its ends carried in the upper ends of crank arms 41 which are.secured upon a lower transverse rod or rock-shaft 42, which isinolmtedin bearings 43 and has secured to it at one end a special lever44, which I terin'a releasing lever and which carries 'at its outer enda post 45 upon which is secured a button v head 46 for convenience inoperating said lever. All of the spring latches 35 are 1n lille with oneanother and immediately in front of the rod 40 and hence upon anymovement of the rod 40 toward the front of the switch board it'will becarried against all of the latches .35 and turn them toward the front',whereby all of the levers 25 which. may have been depressed and heldintheir depressed position by the latches will be simultaneouslyreleased and permitted' to return to their initial position under thetension of the springs 32. The rod 40` will be moved toward the front torelease the latches from the depressed levers by simpl depressing -theouter end of the lever 44, t is action serv' to turn the rock shaft 42and move the cran arms 41 and rod 40 on the arc of a circle toward thefront of the base'20.' Upon the rear portion of the base 20 I provide aseries of binding posts 47, and the circuit 'wires for the lamps willextend from'the binding posts 29 to the hindi posts 47 and thence to thelampsl rather t an from the uisY binding posts 29 to the lamps, it beingdeemed more convenient and expeditious to utilize the binding osts '47.

The switc mechanism shown is intended' for use in connection with threemonogrammic fields and to effect the display ofnurnerals on any or allof said fields, and hence I illustrate three sets (A', vB and C) of theswitch levers 25, each set being in a transverserow, and threecorresponding' sets (A, B, C) ofthe binding posts 47, each set of thelatter beingin a transverse row. Each set of the levers 25 and each setof the binding posts 47 is intendedfor one monogram on which may bedisplayed any of the numerals repgesented on the button heads 27 of saidseti/bflevers. If only one monogrammic field""was intended to be usedthe Lswitch mechanism vmight comprise only one set of levers 25 and oneset of binding posts 47, and

in any instance in `which it may be desired to only employ twornonogrannnic lields, two

sets of the 'levels 25 and two sets of the binds.

ing posts 47 will be made use of. lt is ref erable to employ threernonograrnrnic elds and hence in-the apparatus shown l make use of threesets of levers 25 and three sets of binding vposts 47, the set A oflevers and set A of binding posts being intended foreach other. and forone mono rammic field, the set B of levers and set B o binding postsbeing intended for each other and for another adi'oining rnonograrnmicfield, and the set C of evers and set .C of 'binding posts beingintended for each other and for the third monogrammic field.`

i When any one of the levers in the set A. is depressed it will ell'ectthe display of the numeral indicated on it, in the mono- 4o' grammiciel'd provided for set A; when any yone of the' levers in the set B isdepressed it willcause the display of thenurneral indicated on it, inthe monogrammic lield for set Bland when any one of the levers in i ,.45'the set C is depressed it will'cause the display ,'of lthe numeralindicated on it inA the monogramrnic field for set- U. li' only .onenumeral is displayed only one lever bearing that numeral will'hedepressed, and

i this may be a lever of any of the three sets.

lf two numerals are to he displayed in the nxonogranmlic fields, onelever el one set and one lever of the next set will be depressed,

and 'if three numerals are tolle displayed in the nlonogrannnie lields,one lever `ol each set will he depressed, the levers in set (T"indicating units, the' leversin set "B tens and the levers in .set "Ahundreds.

l do notdesirc to limit. my inventienlo any special wiring, heransefldesire to claim the switch mechanism rmnprisng the levers 25 carryingthe spring contacts, the board carrying thc'll'indlng post 2), the meansl'pr holding the levers depressed and the means for releasing thedepressed levers, without lregard to the special manner of wiring,- It-,i.;

posts 47 and thence to the lamps in the,-v

monogrammic fields, and xthe manner of? wiring roln'the binding posts47"l tomthe lamps in the monograrnmic'elds is latniliar practice andwill be full understoddfirom the prior art represente by the aforesaid,Letters Patent numbered 683,133 and 7'55' 728,944, respectively.Thewirin'g from tlIe= binding posts 29 to the binding posts 47 may varywith individual judgment,`.but asan illustration of my method ofperformi thisv wiring l wouldex lain' that I connI the 80` binding posts29 or the levers25-'o `lille A set with the binding-posts 47 loi-set Athereof, the binding'posts 29 for, the s levers 25 of set B to thebindin posts 47.

of set B" thereof, and the bin ing'posts e5,- for the lever's 25 of setC,to Athe binding" posts 47 of set C thereof.l Thus, as an example, Iconnect the binding; osts 29 above the first l lever 25 to the le t, tothe 4 binding posts 9, 10 vand 14'of the set A ofjco.-

.binding posts 47., and likewise connect lthe binding posts 29 above thesecond 1 lever.

25 at the left (this bein the lever bearing the numeral 1 in set withthe bindingposts 9, 10 and 14 of set B of binding csf' posts 47andlikewise connect the three binding posts 29 above the third-lever 25at the left (this .being the lever bearingjthe numeral' "11 in set C)with the binding posts 9, 10 and 14 of set o fbindingp0sts47; v100 sothat on thede ression of an "one of the first levers at' the lieft ofsets A, and-1G, the numeral one will be displayedin-the monogrannnicfield. If'it were. desired to ldis play the number "11I wouldl deressthe )075 L"1 levers of sets B and C, and'i it weredesired to displaythe-numberzlldf- I wouldedepress the first lever ineach of the. sets A,B and C. Upon the' depression .of these levers they will be held bythelatches '1-10- provided for them, and so long. as said latches hold.the front ends of these levers in their depressed osition the number111'I will be displays in the monogrammic fields. Should it thereafterbe desired t0 displa another number the releasing lever 44 wil hedepressed to release the thenwdepressed Hl levers of sets A, B and andextinguish the lanips'r-lenoting 11i, and then the )ropcr levers 25 ofcach set will be depresser to display the new'number whatover it may be.The operator. need only' observe the numbers on the levers 25 anddepress the special levers making. up the number he desires to display,the number. 125 displayed serving as a call or sign for the carriagewanted,

'l`he main feed wires are numbered 50 and 5l, and the main circuit wiresthrough theswitch' mechanism und the return from the .,130

lamps are numbered, respectively, 52, 53, the wire 52 passing from thefuse-block 54 to the pivot rod 24 which is in contact with all of themetal levers 25., The return lwire 53 5 from thelam s connects with thefuse-block 55. I provi e an ordinary cut-out switch 56 'and fusewiress57von the base 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The circuit is thus throughthe wire 52, lrod 24', levers 25, switches 2S, binding posts 29, wiresfrom said posts to the binding posts 47 and thence through wiresleadingto the lamps in'the monogrammie fields, the return from thelatter being by way of the wire 53.

provided a transverse bar 60 to limit theyl downward movement of saidlevers, and on' 3o vthe ixmer end of the releasing lever 44, is provideda usual form of screw sto 61 to limitthe'downward movement of sai Vendof said lever, The screw stop 61 is of importance in that by itsadjustment the relation of the rod' 40 to the spring-latches 35 may benicel regulated. The. rod 40 by being inita y located close to thelatches 35 prevents the latter from being turned unduly toward the rearof the base 20 'under the 'tension of the s ,gings 38, said rod thenacting as a stop for a ofsaid latche's, and said location of said rodenables the same with only a slight movement of the releasing-lever 44to move all of4 the latches of the depressed levers frontwardlytorelease said levers.

What I claim as my .invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent,is:

. l. In electricdisplay carriage-call apparatus, employing amono'grammic field of electric lam s to be lighted in the outline of thenumeras to be displayed thereon, the switch mechanism com rising th'ebase, the set of parallel pivotally mounted numbered switch-leversthereon carrying spring contacts in varying numbers at the upper .sideof their inner ends, the board over said switch-lever contacts andhaving the paralle] rows of binding posts in v.'.rying'nuln bers to beengaged by said contacts, the cir- 60 cuit wires connected to saidposts, springs normally holding said contacts free of said pipsts,spring latches for independently lockg the front end of said levers 1ntheir dvpressed position when said ends are depressed 65 to movesaidcontar-ts into connection with When the levers-25 are in their initia1-posltlon, their sprin contacts 28 do notenthe electric circuit for thelamps, and said' eircuitsand'wires leading to the lamps be arranged to,display-a complete numera on the monogrammic' field on thedepressionof` any one o said levers, thenumeral thus displayed-'corresending with that delineated on the lever; su stantially as set forth.'

ratus -employing a mono ammic fiel of electric lam s to be light 'in theoutline of. the numera to be' displayed thereon, the switch mechanismcomprisingthebase, the set of parallel. ivotally mounted 'numberedswitch-levers t er'eon earryingspring. con- 'tacts in varying-numbersatthe upper side ot their inner ends, the board over'said switchlevercontacts andv having theparallelrows ofv bindingposts in varymg numbersto be" engaged by said contacts,the ci'rcuit .wires connected to 'saidposts, means normally holding -said contacts free of said'posts, springlatches' for Aindependently locking the 'front ends of said levers `in-their depressed position. whenfu'said ends arev depressed to' move saidl( :oiitactsl into connection withsaid'po'sts,rlO'means'forsiniultancously acting on all said atches'forreleasing'l allof` saidzdepressedleveljs, a'second series of bindingvaposts. (47)towhich said `circuit wires lead,- and' wires 'leading i' therefrom tothe 'lamps, said leversgbeing fof eonducting material and 'inthe'eleetiiccircuit for the lamps,

'and saidl circits'ambwires leading to. the

lamps being arranged to-display a oo'inplete.

numeral on the fmonogrammic llield on the 'depressionof any ,one of saidlevers, the numeral thus displayed corresponding with thatdelineated onthe, lever; substantially assetfprth.-

`- electric-display carriage-call apparatus' employing a monogrammiefield of electric lam slto be lighted in the outline of the numeras tobe displayed thereon, the switch mechanism comprising the base, the Vsetof parallel pivotally mounted numbered switch -levers thereon carryingspring contacts in varying numbers at the upper side of their innerends, the board over said switchlever contacts and having the parallelrows of bindi'ng posts in' varying numbers to be engaged by saidcontacts, the circuit. wires connected with said posts, springs normallyholding said contacts free of said' posts, a row of pivoted independentspring latches between and for engaging and locking the front ends ofsaid levers when they are depressed to lnove said contacts intoconnection with 'said posts, the pivotally supported transverse rod'extended along all of said latches, and a releasing lever at one sideof said base for moving said rod to release said vofv 2. In Aelectricdisplay'carriage call a palatches from all of the depressed switclvlevers, said switchdevers being of conducting material and in theelectric circuit, and said circuits and wires leading to the lamps beingarranged to display a complete numeral on the monogrammic field on thedepression ofV any one of said levers, the numeral thus displayedcorresponding uith that delincated on the lever; substantially as forth.

4. ln electric-display carriage call apparatus en'iploying threemonogrammic fields oi electric lamps to be lighted in the outlines ofthe units, tens and hundreds numerals to be displayed thereon, theswitch mechanism comprising the base, the three sets of parallelpivotally mounted and correspondingly numbered switch-leversrepresenting units, tcnsvand hundreds, respectively, and carryingcontacts in varying numbers at the upper sides of' their inner ends, theboardfovcr said switch-lever contactsandhaving the series of parallelrows of' binding posts in varying numbers to be engaged by saidcontacts, the circuit wiresconnected with said posts, means normallyholding said contacts free of said posts,- spring latches For lockingthe l'ront ends ol'- said levers in their depressed position when. saidends are depressed to move said contacts into connection with saidposts', and releasing means for simultaneously Vreleasing all Aol" saiddepressed levers, said levers being of conducting materialand in theelectric circuit for the lamps, and said circuits and wires leading tothe lamps being arranged to display a complete numeral On themonogrammic field on the depression of any one of said levers, thenumeral thus displayed corresponding with that delineated on the lever;substantially as set forth.

5. ln electric display carriage call a.) aratus employing threemonogrammic e ds l of electric lamps'to be lighted in the outlines l ofthe units, tens and hundreds numerals to be displayed thereon, theswitch 'mechanism i* comprising the base, the three setsof parallel f,pivotally mounted and correspondingly numbered switch-leversrepresenting units, tens l and hundreds, respectively, and carrying, atthe upper sides of their inner ends, springl contacts 'in varyingnumbers, the board over said switch-lever contacts and having the seriesof parallel rows of binding posts in varying numbers to be engaged bysaid contacts, the circuit wires connected with said vkposts, meansnormally holding said contacts iree of said posts, a row of springlatches for locking the front ends of said levers in their depressedposition when said ends are depressed to move said contacts intoconnection with said posts, means for simultaneously releasing all ofthe depressed levers, the three sets of binding posts 47 correspondingwith the 'said three sets of switch-levers and connected with the wiresleading from the posts on said board, and wires leading from the posts47 to the lamps, said levers being of conducting material and ,in theelectric cir- `cuit for the lamps, and said circuits and Wires play acomplete numeral on the monogrammic field on the depression ofany onevofsaid levers, the numeral thus displayed corre- DERONDA LEVY.

Witnesses: l e

ARTHURKMARION, Criss. C. GILL.

spending with" that delineated onthe lever leading to the lamps beingarranged toidis'-

